Rainer Kepplinger (born 19 August 1997) is an Austrian professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Bahrain Victorious.

Rainer Kepplinger
Kepplinger competing in the time trial at the 2022 European Road Championships
Personal information
Born (1997-08-19) 19 August 1997 (age 27)[1]
Austria
Team information
Current teamTeam Bahrain Victorious[2]
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Professional teams
2021–2022Hrinkow Advarics Cycleang[3]
2023–Team Bahrain Victorious

Career

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At the 2022 UCI Esports World Championships, Kepplinger rode in the elite road race for Austria where he got into the early break but was caught on the final climb by the peloton, still managing to finish seventh.[4][5] Kepplinger's first victory came from winning the Kirschblütenrennen (National event) in a two-man sprint to the line with Matthias Reutimann. Kepplinger attacked solo with 30 km to go but Reutimann was able to catch up and the pair finished 54 seconds ahead of the chasers.[6]

In June 2022 at the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt, he won the final stage ahead of defending champion Alexis Guérin, securing his first overall victory in the race.[7] In late July a criterium was held, the Altstadtcriterium, which Geraint Thomas won, while Kepplinger finished 2 seconds behind Thomas in seventh place.[8][9]

On 12 August 2022 it was announced that Kepplinger would join UCI WorldTeam Team Bahrain Victorious on a three-year contract from 2023.[10][11]

Major results

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Sources:[1][12]

2021
5th Time trial, National Road Championships
2022
1st   Overall Oberösterreich Rundfahrt
1st Stage 3
2nd Overall Tour of Malopolska
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
5th Overall Belgrade Banjaluka
7th UCI Esports World Championships
2024
8th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 2024
  Giro d'Italia 64
  Tour de France
  Vuelta a España DNF
Legend
Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rainer Kepplinger". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Rainer KEPPLINGER". UCI. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  3. ^ "HRINKOW ADVARICS". UCI. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Men Final Result" (PDF). ctfassets.net. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  5. ^ Mickey, Abby (26 February 2022). "Vine and Ovett of Australia finish first and second in esports World Championships". CyclingTips. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Kepplinger gewinnt Kirschblütenrennen". ödar.at (in German). Retrieved 12 August 2022. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  7. ^ "Kepplinger triumphiert bei Oberösterreich-Rundfahrt". sport.ORF.at (in German). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Kepplinger just three seconds behind the Tour de France star - 24 Hours World". 24hoursworlds.com. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Altstadt-Kriterium Graz". Altstadt-Kriterium Graz (in German). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Waldinger Rainer Kepplinger unterschreibt bei Bahrain Victorious". Tips Online (in German). 28 July 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  11. ^ Weislo, Laura (12 August 2022). "Bahrain Victorious sign young Croatian talent Miholjevic". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Rainer Kepplinger". www.cyclingarchives.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
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